By Nafeesah Owoyemi
Egbeda, Lagos – The Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI) has graduated 80 participants of its 2026 National Youth Development Scheme (NYDS), with a call on young people to embrace discipline, mentorship, resilience and purposeful leadership in their quest for personal and societal development.
The graduation ceremony, held on Sunday, November 1, at Muhubah School, Egbeda, Lagos, marked the successful completion of the 13-week training programme, which equipped the young participants with essential knowledge and skills for personal growth, leadership and entrepreneurship.
The programme, themed “Breaking New Grounds: From Ideas to Impact,” covered eight areas, including Personal Development and Leadership, Financial Literacy, Communication, Personal Branding, Health and Safety Education, Entrepreneurship Studies, Sustainable Development Goals, as well as Team Building and Strategic Planning.
Speaking at the event, the Director of AEI Nigeria, Mr Olajide Faheed, who delivered the keynote address, challenged the graduates to position themselves for opportunities rather than waiting for them to come.
He noted that opportunities favour those who are adequately prepared, stressing that young people must take deliberate steps towards achieving their ambitions.
According to him, “Opportunities come to those who are ready. You don’t wait for opportunities to come because if you do, it’s over.”
Another keynote speaker, Professor Mutiu Qazeem, a Professor of Biochemistry at Lagos State University (LASU), emphasised the importance of setting long-term goals and working consistently towards achieving them.
Professor Qazeem urged the graduates to recognise the value of mentorship and learn from the experiences of people who had made significant contributions in their respective fields.
He said, “You need to set your goals. Ten years’ goals might look far, but it isn’t, so work towards it,” adding that young people must learn to stand on the shoulders of giants.
Earlier, Mr Lukman Odunawu, who delivered the first lecture, spoke on the importance of mentorship and remaining disciplined in the pursuit of personal goals.
He explained that mentors were meant to provide guidance rather than make decisions for their mentees, noting that the responsibility for taking important life decisions rested with individuals.
“Your mentors aren’t your decision-makers; they are just there to guide the decision you have already made,” he said.
The ceremony also featured a panel discussion where panelists highlighted the importance of discipline, consistency, resilience, hard work and trust in Allah as essential qualities for young people seeking to make meaningful contributions to society.
The panellists, which included the Lagos State Youth Ambassador for Epe Division, Miss Summayyah Olakunmi Layole, the Founder of Muslimah Tech Alliance, Romlah Shitta, a member of the NGM Conference Team, Miss Lateefah Salawu, and the Amir of Agbado-Oke-Odo Area Council, Mr. Ali Muhammad, responded to questions from participants on leadership, personal development and navigating life’s challenges.
Other activities included a cup-stacking challenge coordinated by Engineer Hamza Surajudeen, as well as a special appreciation session during which graduates expressed gratitude to individuals who had supported their personal growth.
The graduation of the 80 participants represents the completion of the 2026 NYDS programme, with the organisers expecting the graduates to translate the knowledge and skills acquired into practical contributions to their communities.
Congratulations to the beautiful graduated students.
And to AEI, thanks for nurturing excellence……keep up the good work pls.